Combined dictating and interoffice-communicating system



Fab. 7,, WSQ R. M. SOMERS ET AL 294911937 COMBINED DICTATING AND INTEROFFICE COMMUNICATING SYSTEM Filed June 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Rz'clzardMSomers Feb, '7, 39%) R. M. soMERs ET AL 9 3 COMBINED DICTATING AND INTERQFFICE COMMUNICATING SYSTEM Filed June 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N! l o v} INVENTOR Richard MSomePzs San]. J Wel'i'zer Y ling 81%. TORNEY l atenteci Feb. 7, 1956 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE COMBENED DICTAT ING AND INTEROFFICE- CGMMUNICATING SYSTEM Jersey Application June 11, 1946, Serial No. 675,850

25 Qiaims.

This invention relates to improvements in combined dictating and interoffice-communicating systems of the general character described and claimed in the Hornor Patent No. 2, i85,381 issued October 18, 1949, and having a common assignee with the present application.

The invention relates particularly to improvements in combined dictating and interofiice-communicating systems which are adapted to render the systems more flexible so that they ma perform a wider range of functions.

It is an object to provide a combined system of the character mentioned which is adapted to fulfill efiiciently and dependably the multiple functions of enabling a selective ecordation of dictation on a single dictating machine by a plurality of operators at stations removed from each other, a selective recordation by at least one of those operators from a plurality of sources, a selective reproduction of the recorded dictation by that one operator, and an intercommunication between the operators as whenever the system is not being used for the recordation or reproduction of dictation.

It is another object to provide a dictating and interofiice-communicating system for executives which, besides providing a means for the recorda tion and reproduction of dictation, conversations, etc. by the executive, is adapted to enable the executive to communicate with his secretary in another office, and the secretary to record from her office on the executives machine to relay messages, reports, etc. to the executive in conversational style without disturbing him at the moment and to relay such messages while he is out of his ofiice, which recorded messages the executive may reproduce at his convenience.

It is another object to provide such a system of which the executive has the principal control.

It is another object to provide such a system with a novel and efiective interoffice-signaling means.

It is another object to provide systems of the character described which are arranged to be highly stable-i. e., free from feedback difficulties-without requiring stringent shielding of the circuits.

Another object is to provide such systems which have a minimum number of controls and cannot be put out of operation by unintended or improper manipulation of these controls.

These and other objects and features of our invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In the description of our invention reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the physical arrangement of the main components of the present system; and

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of the circuits and apparatus of this system grouped in units according to their physical arrangement.

In Figure 1 there are shown two stations i and 2 remote from one another, which may be offices separated as by a wall 3. The station 1 is a main or master station as for an executive which includes a dictating machine 4, a combined microphone, receiver and control unit 5 which is considered part of the dictating machine, a startstop control 6 adapted to be operated by the foot and a telephone 1, the unit 5 and the telephone 7 being on a table 8 fractionally shown. The station '2 is a subordinate one and comprises a microphone-receiver unit 9 of the type of a telephone hand set, which is mounted on a table Hi fractionally shown. The unit 9 comprises a handpiece ll mounted removably in a cradle l2. With this cradle there is associated the usual push-button type of switch, indicated as #3 in Figure 2, for controlling the microphone and receiver circuits as the handpiece is removed from and put on the cradle.

The microphone-receivers of the two stations, which may be referred to generally as transducers. may each comprise a single component operable selectively as a microphone or a receiver, as is known in the art, or each may comprise separate components operable respectively as a microphone or receiver. In the present system each such transducer comprises separate microphone and receiver elements, the station I a microphone i4 and a speaker l5 and the station 2 a microphone l6 and receiver ll (Figure 2), but the terms transducer and microphonereceiver are used in the specification and claims to include both the singleand double-component types.

The dictating machine comprises a rotatablymounted record support 18 which may be of a mandrel type for carrying a cylindrical record 19. The record is driven by a motor 26 which is coupled by a belt 2| to a drive pulley 22. The drive pulley is in turn coupled, preferably through a clutch 23, to the shaft 24 of the record support, the clutch being preferred because it enables quick starting and stopping of the record but being not necessary to the invention. Associated with the mounted record I9 is a translating means 25 which may comprise a single unit adjustable selectively to function as a recorder or a reproducer or separate recorder and reproducer units which may be selectively engaged with the record. By way of illustration, 2. single unit is shown having a lever 26 for selectively conditioning it to operate as a recorder or reproducer. The translating unit is driven along the record during recording and repoducing by a feed screw 2'! (fractionally shown) coupled by gearing 28 to the shaft 24. When the lever 26 is moved to a neutral position the unit 25 is uncoupled from the feed screw and may then be moved by hand along the record.

The clutch 23 is operated by an electricallyactuated unit 29 preferably of the type described in the Langley Patent No. 1,380,486. In its basic arrangement, this unit has start and stop coils and 3|, an armature 32 coupled by a link 33 (diagrammatically shown) to the clutch, and a switch pole member 3241 on the armature which makes connection with the stop coil when the start coil is energized and vice versa with the start coil when the stop coil is energized. The current-supply circuits for this unit comprise leads 34 and 35 to the start and stop coils respectively and a common return lead 36 for the coils which runs from the pole member 320..

Coupled mechanically to the gearing 28 by means generally referred to as 31 is a circuit breaker 38 for flashing a signal light 39 in the unit 5 at station 1 while the dictating machine is in operation. This breaker may be of any desired type but is preferably that disclosed in the Somers Patent No. 2,245,164, having a common assignee with the present'application and which need not be herein described in detail.

The dictating machine also includes an electrical amplifier 40 which comprises input and output transformers 4| and 42 and three stages of amplification 43, 44 and 45 that are capacitance-resistance coupled. The first and last amplifier stages are self-biased; however, the intermediate stage 44, being of a variable mu type. is provided with a variable grid bias according to the output signal lever for automatic volume control purposes, the bias being supplied from the plate of the output stage 45 through 9. rectifier 46 and a resistance-capacity type filter generally referred to as 41. The plate sources are obtained from a power-rectifier tube, 48 through an inductance-capacity filter 49. Also, a voltage is derived from this filter 49, through resistors 55 and 5|, for biasing the rectifier tube 45 so that the automatic volume control is inoperative until the output signal reaches a predetermined level.

The automatic volume control is desired when the system is used for recording but not when itis used for reproducing. In order therefore to remove the automatic volume control during reproducing there is provided a single-pole double-throw switch 52 which comprises one component of a multiple-pole two-position amplifier switch 53 that is operated by the lever 26 of the translating unit 25 through a mechanical link 54 diagrammatically shown. The currentsupply circuit from the plate of the output stage 45, indicated as 55, serially includes a blocking condenser 55a and connects to the junction between the resistors and 5!. When the translating unit 25 is in condition for recording, the switch 52 is in the position it occupies in Figure 2. In this position the switch connects a resistor 5512 from the circuit to the ground side 5'! of the amplifierwhich is also the ground lead for the system. This resistor 55b forms with the resistor 50 a potentiometer for limiting the bias voltage supplied to the rectifier 45 and the powersupply filter 49 to an appropriate value which the signal voltage from the stage 45 will exceed to provide an automatic volume control action. However, when the lever 26 is thrown to condition the translating unit for reproducing, the switch 52 is thrown to break the connection of the resistor 55b to ground. Now the full powersupply voltage is supplied as a bias voltage to the rectifier 45. This voltage is greater than any signal voltage and accordingly the rectifier tube 45 is maintained continuously non-conducting and the automatic volume control is therefore inoperative. It is to be noted that the mode of controlling the automatic volume control action here described is according to Dunning Patent No. 2,163,671 having a common assignee with the present application.

The microphone it of the station 2 is preferably one of the carbon-button type so that it will have a relatively high sensitivity. With such a microphone only the gain of the output stage 45 is required. Accordingly this microphone may be connected by unshielded circuits hereinafter described to a lead 55 which connects to the grid of the output stage. Because this microphone is connected to the amplifier between the second and third stages thereof, and the first and second stages are at times not used, the output lead 58 of the second stage is coupled to the third stage 65 through a series of switches which disconnect the two stages at times so as to disable the first and second stages as is hereinafter explained. A prime advantage in using the carbonbutton type of microphone I6 is that the gain required between the input and output circuits is greatly reduced and, as a result, shielding requirements are relaxed and feedback tendencies are mitigated. However, it will he understood that a low-level microphone with a preazr-plifier might be used to simulate the sensitivity 01" the carbon microphone and permit the same relaxation in shielding requirements.

The manipulatable controls at the station I comprise a three-pole four-position selector switch 59 in the unit 5 which is operable b a lever 56 in Figure 1. The switch 59 has in the order named an ofi position wherein it puts the system in condition only for interofdce communication, a dictating position wherein it starts the motor 25 and conditions the system additionally for recording or reproducingdictation, a conference" position wherein it puts the dietating machine into continuous operation for recording conference proceedings and a telephone position wherein it also puts the dictating machine into continuous operation for recording conversations from the telephone 1. Also, in the unit 5 there is a normally-open switch 61 controlled by a lever Eila (Figure 1) which is for controlling the direction of communication between the two ofiices and for signaling station 2 as hereinafter explained. This lever is held normally raised in a so-called listen position (as with respect to the operator at station I) to condition the system for interoflfice communication from station 2 to station i. Upon depressing the lever 51a it is moved to a so-called talk position to condition the system for communication from station I to station 2. In short, this lever may be designated as the T-L" lever. These controls 60 and am, together with the start-stop control 6 and the record-reproduce lever 26, constitute except for several volume controls all of the operable controls at the disposal of the operator at station I.

S 1 The only manipulatable controls at station'2 are the switch l3 which is operated automatically as the handpiece I l is removed from its support, and a push-button switch 62. When this pushbutton switch is depressed, it puts the dictating machine into operation, normally for recording purposes as will hereinafter appear, so that the operator at station 2 may record messages and reports to relay these to the operator at station I, who may then reproduce them at his convenience.

. It is to be noted that many of the functions performed by the control 69which are hereinafter described in detailare in accordance with Dunning Patent No. 2,305,681, having a common assignee with the present application.

The abovementioned control elements at the stations I and 2 control three relays 53, 64 and 65 which are grouped in the unit 66. The relay 63 is a so-called master selector relay comprising a four-pole two-position switch which is normally in a so-called interofiice-communicating" position-the position it occupies in Figure 2. This relay has a coil 53 which when energized throws the relay into its so-called dictating position. The relay 63 is controlled solely by the selector lever to and the start-stop control 6 of station 1 as is hereinafter described. The relay 64 is a so-called talk-listen relay referred to simply as the T-L relay, and comprises a threepole two-position switch. This relay is normally in listen positionthe position it occupies in Figure 2-and has a coil 64a which when energized throws the relay into its talk position. This relay is controlled solely by the T-L lever Bla at station E. The relay 65 is a so-called remote rela comprising a two-pole two-position switch. This relay is normally in the position it occupies in Figure 2 but has a coil 65a which when energized throws the relay into a so-called record position. This relay is controlled solely by the push-button switch 62 at station 2.

The power supply for the system is obtained from an A.-C. outlet (not shown) by way of a two-connector plug 61 mounted on the cabinet of the dictating machine. One connector pin of this plug is connected to the grounded line 51 which is indicated by a heavy line. The other or live connector of this plug is connected through an on-off switch 58 for the system, to the line 36 which runs to the clutch-operating unit 29 of the motor 29 and to a line 69 which runs to the plate of the rectifier tube 38 of the amplifier 49. It is the rectified voltage from this tube 48, taken from the cathode thereof by a lead 19, that supplies the energizing current for the coils of the relays abovementioned.

The leftward section of the three-pole selector switch 59 (Figure 2) is for selectively connecting the several signal sources to the input of the amplifier 40. This section comprises a pole 1| con-* nected by a shielded lead '12 to a pole member 13 of the amplifier switch 53; when the amplifier switch is in record position, the pole member I3 connects to the amplifier input through a lead 14. Associated with the pole H are successive contacts l5, l6, l7 and 18. The contact is engaged by the pole it when the selector switch is in oil position, but is connected to the next contact it, which represents the position. This contact is connected to an adjustable contact 19 of a volume control that is connected through a condenser 8| across the microphone M. The next contact 11which 7 dictating represents. the conference position-is corinected to an adjustable contact 82 of a volume control 83 which is connected also across the microphone M. The next and last contact '|8which represents the telephone position-is connected to an adjustable contact 84 of a volume control that is connected across a line 86. This line is connected by any suitable means to the tele, phone '1 as, for example, to a telephone pick-up coil 81 (Figure 1).

The next section of the selector switch 59 controls the relay 93 and is particularly, among other things, a control for the clutch 23. This section has a pole 88 connected to the ground line 51 and has successive contacts 89 through 92. The contact 89, representing the off position, is idle. Contacts 9i? and 9! are connected to the startstop foot switch 6 and contacts 9! and 92 are bridged together and connected by a lead 93 to one side of the relay coil Etc. The other side of this coil is connected to the unfiltered rectified power supply through the lead iii aforementioned. Thus, when the selector switch 59 is in dictating" position and the foot switch 5 is closed, or when the selector switch is in either conference or telephone position irrespective of the position of the foot switch, the coil 53a is energized and the relay 63 is held in its dictating position. This relay includes a pole 95 connected to the ground line 51. When the relay is unactuated-i. e., in interofiice-comunicating position-this pole connects to a lead 96 which runs to a pole 91 of the remote relay l5. Normally the pole 9! makes contact with the lead 35 of the stop coil 3| of the clutch-actuating unit 29. When the relay 63 is thrown to dictating position the pole 95 makes contact directly with the lead 34 that runs to the start coil 30 and closes the circuit of this coil with the power supply by way of the pole 32a. of the unit 29 and the lead 35. When the coil 39 is energized the armature is thrown to engage the clutch and to move the pole 32a of the contact to the stop coil 3i so as to break the start circuit and to prepare the stop circuit for subsequent operation. When the relay coil 63a is next deenergized the pole 95 makes contact with the lead 95 to complete the circuit through the stop coil 3! by way of the pole 9i, lead 35, pole 32a and lead 355. When the stop coil is energized the armature is thrown to break the stop circuit, prepare the start circuit and disengage the clutch.

The last section of the selector switch 59 controls the motor 29. This section has a pole 98 connected to the ground line 57 and has four successive contacts 99 through 102. Contact 99, representing the off position, is idle, but contacts lilo through E92 are bridged together and connected by a lead 293 to the motor 29. Thus, whenever the selector switch is in dictating," conference or telephone position the motor is energized.

One side of the signal light 39 is connected to the ground line 5? but the other side is connected by way of a lead its and a resistor I95 to the lead 10 that runs to the cathode of the rectifier tube 49. This signal light thus receives its power from the amplifier of power-rectifier tube i8 and is lit only when this tube is conducting to indicate when the amplifier is in operating condition. Additionally, this signal light may be used to inform the operator at station i when the'dictating machine is in operation. This is accomplished by connecting the circuit breaker 38 from the junction of line I94 with the resistor i9! amass! through resistors I96: to. the ground line it. When the circuit breaker is closed the voltage supplied to the lamp is reduced to. extinguish the light because the resistors HIE and I06 then coe operate to forma potentiometer. Since the breaker 38 is operated when the dictating machine is in operation, or alternatively if desired when the machine is in operation and conditioned for recording as described in the aforesmentioned Somers Patent No. 2,245,164, the operator is signaled by the. light 39 also as to. the particular operating condition of the dictating machine.

The output transformer 42 of the amplifier 40 has two. output circuits leading from an intermediate tap I39 that is grounded: a circuit IilI for feeding into the translatingunit 25 when operated as a recorder and a circuit I98 for feeding. into. the receivers I and Il Across the. recorder output circuit I61 there maybe permanently connected a load-stabilizing resistor II II. When the amplifier switch 53 is in recording position, the recorder output circuit is connected through a condenser III, pole I I2 of the switch 53 and a shielded lead H3 to the translating unit 25.

As so far described, the operation of recording dictation is as follows: The on-off switch 68 is closed to supply power to the system. When the amplifier .0 is in operating condition the signal light 39 gives a steady light. Upon next throwing the selector switch to dictating position the motor is started. Upon next depressing the start-:stop, switch 6. the relay 63 is thrown to -dictating position to. engage the clutch and start the record rotating. Also, as the relay 63 is thrown a pole [I4 thereof, which is connected to the output lead 58 of the amplifier stage 44, makes contact with the lead 56 runing to the grid of the output stage to couple the amplifier from its input to output transformers. Upon the lever 26 being in record position to condition the translating unit for recording and to put the amplifier switch 53 in its so-called record position,

the signal currents from the microphone I4 are fed through the amplifier and'to the translating unit 25 where they are recorded on the record I5.

It will be noted that the output circuit I08 of the output transformer 42 is connected by a lead H5 to a contact H6 of the selector relay 63. However, the associated pole III of this relay contact breaks connection therewith, when the relay is thrown to dictating position, to break the circuit I53 during recording.

It will be understood that when the selector switch 59 is thrown to conference and telephone positions the amplifier input transformer. is connected to the microphone I4 and telephone 2 respectively and, at the same time, the motor 25 is started and the clutch 23 is engaged to put the dictating machine into continuous operation.

Whenever the lever 26 is thrown to reproduce position the amplifier switch 53 is thrown to the left as it appears in Figure 2; The pole '53 of the switch is now connected to ground at 51c so as to ground the signal circuits of station I. The pole II2, which is connected to the translating unit 25, is now connected through a resistor H8 to the lead I4 running to the amplifier input. At the same time, a pole I I9 of the amplifier switch 53 connects the out-.- put I88 of the amplifier to a lead I20 that leads to the speaker I5. Also, another pole I2I of the amplifier switch 53 now connects'a scratch filter, comprising a resistor. I22 and condenser us, across the recorder output III! to filter out the record surface noises. Additionally, as heretofore explained, the. switch 52, which is part 0! the multiple switch 53, is now in position to cut out the automatic volume control. Thus. it will he noted that upon placing the selector relay 63 into. dictating position (to couple the amplifier stages 44 and 45 as heretofore explained) while thelever 26 is in reproduce position, the translating unit 25 is coupled through the amplifier 40. to the speaker I5 for reproducing the recorded matter on the record I9.

The present system is adapted to enable the operator at station I to talk to the operator at station 2, and to enable the operator at station 2 to talk to station I and to record on the record #9 as whenever the operator at station I is not using the dictating machine. The system is set up so that normally it is conditioned for commu-' nication from station 2 to station I. To reverse this direction of communication it is necessary for the operator at station I to depress the T-L lever 59a. However, this reverse communication from station I to station 2 is made contingent upon the dictating machine being in condition for recordingi. e., the lever 25 being in record position? This is done so that the operator at station Iwho has the primary control of the dictating machine-will normally leave the machine in'condition for recording so that the operator at station 2 may record as whenever the operator at station I is not using the dictating machine. I I

The TL relay is normally in listen position shown in Figure 2. When the selector relay 63 is concurrently in "interofiice-communicating position the output lead of the second amplifier stage 44 is grounded, to disable the first two stages of the amplifien'b-y'a lead I24 running from the pole II4 of the relay 53 through a pole I25 of the relay 64 to the ground lead 51. Also, if the handpiece II at station 2 is now removed'from the cradle I2, the carbon-button microphone It is coupled to the grid of the output stage 45. This coupling comprises a primary circuit run} plug from ground through the microphone Hi and" then by way of a lead I26, switch contacts I21 of the cradle switch I3, a lead I23, the pri mary of an audio transformer I29, a volume control I38 and a-lead I3I to the rectified plate supply of the amplifier 48. The secondary circuit or this coupling runs from ground through the secondary of the audio transformer I29 and then by way of a lead 13?, pole I33 of the T-L relay B l a lead I34 and the lead 55 to the grid of the output stage 45. Additionally the output circuit I68 is now connected to the speaker I5of station I by the lead I I5, pole I I'i of selector relay 63, lead I35, pole #35 of remote relay 65, lead I31, pole I330: T-L relay 64, lead I39, pole H9 of ampli fier switch 53 and lead I20 to the speaker I5. Accordingly, when the relays 64 and 63 are in their normal positions, and the amplifier switch 53 is in record position, the carbon-button microphone of station Zis connected automatically as the handpiece I I is raised from the cradle I2 through the amplifier output stage 45 to the speaker I5 to enable communication from station 2 to station I. I

In order for the operator at station I to talk to the operator at station 2 he must as a first requirement have the amplifier switch 53 in "record position for only then is the microphone I4 connected to the input of the amplifier; addi- 9 tionally, he must throw the relay 64 to its talk position. He can put the relay 64 in talk position, by depressing the T-L lever Ma, only when the selector relay 65 is in interofilce-communicating position because the energizing circuit of the relay coil 54c includes a pole I43 and contact H! of the selector relay B3 and this pole and contact are closed only when the selector relay is in its interofilce-communicating position. For instance, one side of relay coil 64a is connected by a lead I42 to the pole I48 and the contact MI is connected by a lead I43 to the lead it that leads to the unfiltered rectified voltage supply of the amplifier 40. The other side of the relay coil 64a is connected by way of a lead I44 and the T-L switch 6| to the ground line 'I. Thus upon depressing the T-L lever (Ha while the selector relay is in its normal position, the relay 64 is thrown to talk position.

In the talk position of the relay 64 the output lead 58 of the amplifier stage 44 is connected to the output stage 45 by way of the pole II4 of the selector relay 63, lead I24, pole I33 of the T-L relay 64 and lead 56 that runs to the grid of the output stage. Also, the output circuit Illa of the amplifier is now connected to the circuit of the receiver H of station 2 by the lead II5, pole III of selector relay 63, lead I 35, pole I35 of remote relay 65, lead I31, pole I38 of T-L relay 64 and lead I45 to one side of the receiver I l. The other side of the receiver I? is connected to ground by a lead I46 so as to complete the circuit. However, unless the handpiece II is off the cradle I2 the receiver is shorted by contacts I4? of the cradle switch I3. Accordingly if the operator at station I is the one initiating the interoffice communication, he must first signal the operator at station 2 to remove the handpiece II from the cradle.

In the present system, this signaling is effected automatically by depressing the T-L lever B Ia to talk position. The signaling means may suitably be a polarized bell I48 which will give one cl'ang when energized and another when deenergized. One terminal of this bell is connected by a lead I49 to the lead I42 which leads to the-rectified power supply as hereinbefore' described. The other terminal of the bell is connected by normally-closed contacts i5!) of the cradle switch I3 and lead I5! to the lead I44 which runs to the T43 switch 6|. Thus, upon depressing the T-L lever tie the bell I 48 is energized to signal the operator at station 2. If the operator does not at first hear the signal, it may be repeated by alternately releasing and depressing the lever 6 la. 55

However, when the operator at station 2 lift the handpiece II from the cradle ill the contacts I55 are broken and the signaling means is put out of operation. At the station 2 there is a signal light I52 for informing the operator at that station 60 when the system is operative for calling station I. Also, this signal light normally serves to inform the operator at station 2 when she ma record. This signal light has one side connected to the ground line 5'I and has the other connected to the lead I49 which is connected to the unfiltered rectified voltage supply of the amplifier 48 provided the selector relay 63 is in interofiice-communicating position, as is hereinbefore explained.

Thus, as soon as the amplifier is in operating =con 70 dition the signal I52 is lit, unless however the dictating machine is being used by the operator at The push-button switch 52 at station 2 controls the remote relay as follows: One side of the relay is connected to the ground line 51 and the other side is connected by a lead I53 and the switch 62 to the lead I49 which connects to the rectified power supply when the selector switch is in interoffice-communicating position. Thus, the condition under which the relay 65 may be actuated is the same as that under which the signal light is litwhich is that the dictating machine be not used by the operator of station I. When the relay 65 is actuated into record position, one side of the start coil 30 of the unit 29 is connected to the live. side of the power supply by the pole 32a and lead 35, and the other side is connected to ground by lead 34, pole 91 of remote relay 55, lead 96 and pole 95 of the selector relay 63. Thus the clutch is engaged for starting the record rotating. At the same time the circuit connection from the output I88 of the amplifier to the speaker I5 at station i is broken by the pole I35 of the relay 65 breaking contact with the lead I35. This is done so that the matter which is being recorded by the operator at station 2 will not be reproduced by the speaker I 5 to the annoyance of the operator at station I. However, when the switch button 62 is released, the relay 55 is restored to normal position. Now the stop coil 3! is energized, to disengage the clutch, because one side thereof is connected to the power supply by the pole 32a and lead 36 and the other side is connected to the ground line 51 by the lead 35, pole 91 of relay 65, lead 95 and pole 95 of the selector relay 63. At the same time the pole I36 makes contact with the lead I35 to reconnect the speaker I 5 to the amplifier output I98 whereby to restore the system for interofflce communication from station 2 to station I.

Whenever neither operator intends to record dictation, the system may be left in its stand-by condition efiective only for interoffice communication by closing the on-off switch 68 while leaving the selector switch 59 in off position, but on the condition that the amplifier switch 53 is left in record position. The motor 12!] is now at standstill and all relays are in their normal positions. The operator at station 2 may at any time call station I simply b lifting the handpiece II from the cradle I2, and the operator at station I may call station 2, through the bridge connection I54 between the contacts I5 and I6 of the selector switch 59. by depressing the T-L lever BIa to talk position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description that the present system is adapted particularly to fulfill efficiently and dependably the multiple functions of a recording system for use selectively by a pluralityof operators, a complete dictating system (recording and reproducing) for one of the operators, and an interofiicecommunicating system for use by all the operators. It is intended that this particular system be illustrative and not necessarily limitative of our invention, because changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departure from the scope of Our invention, which we endeavor to express according to the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a combined dictating and interofiicecommunicatin system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having a motor, a record support, a clutch for coupling the motor to said support and a start-stop control for engaging and disengaging said clutch; a second station having a signal light:

means for energizing said light while said motor 'is running; and means controlled by said startfirst station including a dictating machine having an electrical amplifier, transducer means operable as a microphone receiver, and startstop means for putting said machine into and out of operation; a second station including a microphone; means for connecting the microphone of said second station by way of said amplifier to the receiver of said first station to enable communication from said second to said first station; and means controlled by said startstop means for disabling said connecting means while said machine is in operation.

3. In a combined dictating and interc-fficecommunicating system: the combination of first station including a dictating machine hav ing record-rotating means, an electrical amp1i fier and a transducer means; a second station including a start-stop control for rendering said record-rotating means effective and inefiective. and a microphone for feeding into said ampli fier; means connecting the output of sa d amplifier to said translating means and to said transducer means; and means associated with said start-stop control and operative when said record-rotating means is in effective condition for disabling said connecting means as to said transducer means.

4. In a combined dictating and interofficecommunicating system: the combination of first and second stations each including a microphone-receiver; means interconnecting said microphone-receivers for enabling communication between said stations, said means including a directional control at the first of said stations normally in a position to enable communication from the second to the first of said stations; a signaling means at the second of said stations controllable at the first of said stations: and mean controlled by said directional control for renderin said signaling means operative.

5. In a combined dictating and interofficecommunicatin system: the combination of first and second stations each including a microphone-receiver; means interconnecting said microphone-receivers for enabling communicat on between said stations, said means including a directional control at the first of said stations normally in a listen position to enable communication from the second to the first of said stations and operable into a talk position to enable communication from the first to the second of sa d stations; and means responsive to throwing said directional control to talk position for signaling the second of said stations.

6. In a combined dictating and interofiica communicating system: the combinat onof first and second stations each having a microphone receiver; a support at the second of said stations for the receiver of said station; means interconnecting said microphone-receivers to enable commun cation between said stations, said means including a directional control at the first of said stations normally in a listen position to enable one-way communication from the second to the first of said stations and a switch at the second of said stations responsive to placing the microphone-receiver of said second station on said support for disabling communication irom the first to the second of said stations, said. directional control being operable'into a talk position to enable one-way communication from the first to the second of said stations; a soundsignaling means at the second of said stations; means responsive to operating said directional control to talk position for putting said soundsignaling means into operation; and means responsive to removing the receiver of said second station from said support for rendering said signaling means inoperative.

7. In a combined dictating and 'interoificecommunicating system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having a support for a record, a record-cooperating translating means, a microphone, an electrical amplifier and means for selectively conditioning said translatin means for recording and reproducing; a second station including a receiver: and means controlled by said conditionin means and efiective only when said translating means is conditioned for recording for connecting said microphone to said receiver by way of said amplifier to enable communication from the first to the second of said stations.

8. In a combined dictating and interofllcecommunicating system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having a support for a record, a record-cooperating translating means, a microphone, an electrical amplifier and means for selectively conditioning said translating means for recording and repro ducing; a second station including a receiver: means for connecting said microphone to said receiver by way of said amplifier to enable communication from the first to the second of said stations; and means controlled by said conditioning means and effective when said translating means is in reproducing condition for disablin said connecting means.

9. In combination, an electrical multistage amplifier having a switch operable to uncouple two successive stages thereof from each other, a record-rotating means, control means for render ng said record-rotating means effective and inefiective, and means operatively connected to said control means for intercoupling said two amplifier stages as said record-rotating means is rendered efiective and uncoupling said stages as said record-rotating means is rendered ineffective.

10. In a combined dictating and interoflicecommunicat ng system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having record-rotating means, a start-stop means for rendering said record-rotating means effective and inefiective, and an electrical amplifier hav n successive stages thereof uncoupled and a microphone connected to the input of said amplifier; a second station including means for generating sound-representing oscillations of a substantially higher level than are the oscillations generated by said microphone, and means for operat vely connecting said transducer means to the input of the second of said amplifier stages: and means, controlled by said start-stop means and operative when said record-rotating means is in efiective condition, for coupling said amplifier stages.

11. In a combined dictating and interofilcecommunicating system: the combination of a first station comprising a dictating machine having an electrical amplifier, a microphone-receiver and control means for putting said machine into and out of operation; a second station including a microphone-receiver; a directional-control relay normally in a listen" posi tion to enable communication from said second station to said first station by way of said amplifier and operable into a talk position to enable communication from said first station to said second station; and means operatively coupled to said control means and efiective when said dictating machine is in operation for disabling said relay.

12. In a combined dictating and interofilcecommunicating system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having a multistage electrical amplifier with uncoupled successive stages, a microphone-receiver, a record-rotating means, and a start-stop means for rendering said record-rotating means efiective and ineffective; a second station including a receiver and a carbon-button microphone; a directionahcontrol relay normally in a listen position wherein it connects the microphone of said second station to the input of the second of said successive amplifier stages and the output of said amplifier to the receiver of said first station, said relay being adapted when energized to connect the microphone of said first station to the input of said amplifier, to

couple said successive stages and to connect the 5 output of said amplifier to the receiver of said second station; a circuit for supplying energizing current to said relay; and means controlled by said start-stop means for disabling said ourrent-supply circuit when said dictating machine is in operation.

13. In a combined dictating and interofiicecommunicating system including a dictating machine having an electrical amplifier, a recordrotating means and a record-cooperating recorder: the combination of first and second stations, a microphone at said first station, a microphone-receiver at said second station, a recording circuit for connecting the microphone of said second station by way of said amplifier to said recorder, start-stop means at said second station for rendering said record-rotating means effective and ineffective, and a control at said first station operable to break said recording circuit and to connect the microphone of said first station to the receiver of said second station through said amplifier to condition the system for communication from said first to said second station.

14. In a combined dictating and interofficecommunicating system including a dictating machine having record-rotating means, a record-cooperating recording means, an electrical amplifier for feeding into said recording means, a transducer adapted to function as a microphone and as a receiver: the combination of first and second. stations, means at said first station for connecting said transducer to the input of said amplifier. a start-stop control at said first station for rendering said record-rotating means efiective and ineffective, a microphone at said second station, and means controlled by said start-stop means and effective when said record-rotating means in ineffective for connecting the microphone of said second station by way of said amplifier to said transducer to enable communication from said second to said first station.

15. In a combined dictating and interoificecommunicating system including a dictating machine having record-rotating means, a recordcooperating translating means, means for selectively conditioning said translating means for recording and reproducing, and an electrical amplifier: the combiation of a first station; a' transducer at said first station adapted to function as a microphone and as a receiver; a startstop control at said first station for rendering said record-rotating means efiective and ineffective; a dictating-control means at said first station operable into a record position to connect said transducer to said translating means by way of said amplifier with the translating means conditioned to operate as a recorder, and operable into a reproduce position to connect said translating means to said transducer by way of said amplifier with the translating means conditioned to operate as a reproducer;

a second station including a microphone, a support for said microphone and means for disabling the microphone when it is on said support; and means for causing the microphone of said second station to be connected by way of said amplifier to said transducer when said microphone is oif said support, said dictatingcontrol means is in record position and said start-stop means is concurrently in stop position.

16. In a combined dictating and interoiiicecommunicating system including a dictating machine having an electrical amplifier: the combination of a first station including a receiver normally connected to the output of said amplifier, a second station having start-stop means for putting said dictating machine into and out of operation, and means controlled by said startstop means for disconnecting said receiver from said amplifier as the dictating machine is put into operation.

17. In a combined dictating and interofficecommunicating system including a dictating machine having a record-rotating means, a record-cooperating translating means and an electrical amplifier: the combination of a first station including a receiver normally connected to the output of said amplifier; a second station including a microphone normally connected by way of said amplifier to the receiver of said first station; and a control at said second station operable to connect the microphone of said second station by way of said amplifier to said translating means, to render said record-rotating means effective and to break the connection of said microphone to said receiver.

18. In a combined dictating and interofllcecommunicating system including a dictating ma chine comprising an electrical multistage amplifier; record-rotating means, record-cooperating translating means and a first station including a microphone for feeding into said amplifier: the combination of a second station including a microphone connected to the input of a later one of the stages of said amplifier, a switch for uncoupling said one stage from the next preceding stage, start-stop means at said first station for rendering said record-rotating means effective and ineffective, and means coupled to said startstop means for operating said switch to inter;- couple said stages as said record-rotating means is rendered efit'ective and to uncouple said stages as said record-rotating means is rendered in efiective.

19. In a combined dictating and interoificecommunicating system comprising a dictating machine including a rotatable record support,

adrive means, a clutch "forcoupling said drive means to said support, a record-cooperable translating device and an electrical amplifier: the combination of first and second stations each having a receiver-microphone; a selector con trol at said first station having an interoificecommunicating position for interconnecting said receiver microphones by way of said amplifier to enable communication between said stations, said selector control being movable from said interofficewommunicating position to a dictating position; means coupled to said Selector control for connecting the receiverlnicroplione of said first station to said translating device by way of said amplifier and concurrently engagin said clutch as said selector control is moved to dictating position; and a dictation control at said second station operatively connected to said selector control so that it is Operable only when the latter is in interoflice-con':municatiiig position, said dictation control being adapted when operated to connect the receiver-microphone of said second station to said translating device by Way of said amplifier and concurrently to engage said clutch.

20. In a combined dictating and interoificecommunicating system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having a motor, a record support, a clutch for coupling the motor to said support and a start-stop control for engaging and disengaging said clutch; a second station having a signaling means; means rendered operable by said startstop means as the same is moved to stop position for enabling communication between the said stations and means controlled by said start-stop means at said first station for controlling said signaling means at said second station.

21. In a combined dictating-interofiice-communicating system comprising a dictating machine havin: electrical amplifier and control means for putting said machine into and out of operation: the combination of first and second stations each including a microphonereceiver; a directional control at said first station normally in a listen position to connect the microphone receiver of said second and first stations to the input and output respectively of said amplifier, said directional control being movable into a talk position to reverse the connections of said microphone-receivers as to said amplifier; a selector device at said first station operable to break the communication circuits between said stations and place said dictating machine into operation; and means controlled by said selector device for causing said directional control. to be retained in said listen position while said selector device is in operated condition.

22. In a combined dictating and interofiicecommunicating system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having a support for a record, a record-cooperating translating means, a microphone-receiver and means for selectively conditioning said translating means for recording and reproducing; a second station including a microphone-receiver; means for interconnecting said microphone-receivers to enable communication between said stations, including a directional control at said first station having talk and listen positions and biased into listen position for conditioning said systemior communication only from the second to the first of said stations; and means effective only when said directional control is in talk position and said translating means is in record condition for conditioning said system for communication from said first to said second station.

23. In a combined dictating and interofficecommunicating system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having a support for a record, a record-cooperating translating means, a microphone-receiver and means for selectively conditioning said translating means for recording and reproducing; a second station including a microphone-receiver; a selector control movable into a dictating position to enable operation of said dictating machine from and to said microphone-receiver of said first station, and movable into an inter ofiice-communicating position for enabling communication between said stations; a directional control at said first station having talk and listen positions and efiective when in listen position. for enabling communication only from said second to said first station; and means responsive to said directional control only upon the same being moved to talk position while said selector control is in interoificecommunicating position for conditioning said system for communication from said first to said second station.

24. In a combined dictating and interoflicecommunicating system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having record-rotating means and a record-cooperable recorder, a second station including a microphone connected to said machine and a start-stop means for rendering said record-ro tating means efiective and ineffective whereby the operator of said second station may use said machine for recording dictation, and a control for said first station operable to disable said start-stop control at said second station.

25. In a combined dictating and interofiicecommunicating system: the combination of a first station including a dictating machine having record-rotating means and start-stop means operable to render said record-rotating means effective and inefiective, a second station having a start-stop control for rendering said record-rotating means effective and ineffective, and means rendered effective by the start-stop control of said first station as the same is moved to start position for disabling the start-stop control of said second station.

RICHARD M. SOMERS.

SAUL J. WEITZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,0G'L684 Faris Nov. '7, 1911 2,066,672 De Berard et a1. Jan. 5, 1937 2,181,505 Bradfield Nov. 28, 1939 2,181,513 Kurtze Nov. 28, 1939 2,275,406 Berkley Mar. 10, 1942 2,284,306 Sparling May 26, 1942 2,332,784 De Sart, Sr. Oct. 26, 1943 

